Come on.. we’ve all done it! You just want to run and jump in the big black hole behind you. Its made worse by the heckles from your playing companions… “that’s one”!

However embarrassing it is not actually against the rules and no additional shot is added or penalty shot incurred.

A ball blown off by the wind or accidentally knocked off during set up can be replaced without penalty. The only time a penalty shot is recorded is if you have started your downswing and cannot stop, hitting the ball or missing it completely.

The Gateway Golf App is here to help you play better golf with world leading tuition. Easy to follow and can be used time and time again whenever you need that assistance. Also take comfort in having a registered PGA pro on hand for advice and consultation, whether on the course or at the driving range.

Probably the greatest amateur to ever play our wonderful game, Bobby Jones, once famously said: “Golf is played mainly on a five-and-a-half-inch course… the space between your ears.”

Compared with all other sports Golf has got to be right up there as one of the most challenging mentally. That’s why most, if not all, the top players on the European and US tours employ the services of a sports psychologist to assist them with their mental preparation and conduct on the course in the middle of a round. Us amateurs can use some of the simple mental strategies to keep our golf game in check and push us close to our best golf, they are:

Stay in the present. Don’t be put off by counting scorecards or thinking of what your going to do on each hole after the one you are about to play. If you focus fully on the job in hand you will see that you play better golf and your scores tumble.

Every shot is a new opportunity. You only objective in golf is to put the little whit ball in the whole in as fewer shots as possible. Assess the shot you have in front of you and review the risk and reward of taking on the dream one in a thousand shot or play the safe score reducing steady eddie shot.

The past is the past. Golf is a game fully of ups and downs and each shot played has now been given over to history where it should stay. You cant change anything and whether it was the best shot you’ve ever done or the worse score ever played it will not help the next shot you have to play. Leave it there, clear the mind and move on.

Never give up. However difficult or poorly you are playing never ever give up. Always play the next shot as well as you can.

Golf fitness is made up of aerobic endurance, nutrition, muscular strength and flexibility.

Aerobic Endurance is your ability to continue for long periods of physical activity. Its what most would say is your ‘fitness’ level. If you are out of breathe climbing the stairs then you are probably not as fit as you should be. However if you running around and not braking sweat you are likely to be in good shape and more than capable of enduring a competitive round of golf.

Nutrition is all about what you eat, how much you eat and when you eat it. Most would say golf is just a leisurely walk round a field but that they would be wrong. A competitive round of golf can use vital levels of energy you have gained from the food intake. It is important to keep yourself well hydrated and keep topping up you fuel source whilst playing. Although a fairly excused subject in the world of golf, nutrition is a key component when trying to be the best golfer you can.

Muscular strength is all about power. You only have to see how far Rory Mcllroy hits the ball to know how spending hours in the gym pumping iron (excuse the pun) can benefit your golf game. Want to hit those 300+ yard drivers? Hit the gym and engage a Personal Trainer to really focus on key areas of the golf swing.

Flexibility can be incorporated into the gym sessions lifting thse weights. A flexible, freely moving body can only help the golf swing. The swing uses most parts of the body so its vitally important to keep yourself in shape and feeling good!

Once you’ve got yourself in tip top shape you need to keep improving your game. One way to do that is using the #1 Golf Tuition App, Gateway Golf.

Golf Shoes are recommended as you start to play and practice more golf. The key benefit of the golf shoe is they provide better transaction which helps with weight transfer and learning better footwork. Golf shoes are designed with better support and comfort than an ordinary shoe as you are walking the course for 4 hours or so and can be practising for extended periods of time. Many golfers have used tennis shoes rather than golf shoes which is fine at first but it is recommended that a good, quality pair of golf shoes are used if you expect to be playing golf in the long term.

Golf shoes come in a wide variety of leather textures, from soft to firm. The softer leather shoe will provide less support and stability plus tend to wear out quicker. If you are a all weather golfer and walk and pull a trolley or carry a bag as you play, waterproof shoes are now widely available.

Another consideration with golf shoes is whether or not you would like them to have spikes. Many modern golf shoes now come without spikes which can in lesser weather conditions reduce stability and grip on uneven ground. Both spike and spikeless options can be used and it could be an idea to have a pair of each for both summer and winter golf.

Golf shoes are an important piece of equipment when playing, however more important is your continued application of the game itself. Practice makes perfect when playing golf and The Gateway Golf App is here to help you make those steady improvements one step at a time.

Far to often do golfers have a tee time, turn up 10 mins before it, sort the clubs out, get the shoes on, pay the green fee in the pro shop and then walk straight to the first tee. This will only have one result – a poor start, if not poor round of golf. You must warm up not just to get your eye in with your clubs but also to stretch out your body. The golf swing uses most muscles in the body and it is vitally important to warm up.

The first thing to do is have a quick stretch. Ensure you do all body parts. This shouldn’t take to long and will allow you to swing the club effortlessly without risk of injury.

After being all stretched off get to the driving range and begin hitting a few balls with a 7/8 iron at 75%. Slowly work it up to 100% commitment. Once you feel focused and ready to work through your clubs, start with your lowest iron, probably 9 iron and hit several balls working through your irons. Then go onto the fairway woods and finish with the driver.

Now the wedges. Do full shots, half shots and any other shot you feel you may encounter on the course.

Before you go to the first tee from the range spend some time on the putting green. Practice long, medium and short length putts. This is the area which will definitely improve your score or chance of winning the club competition.

The warm should take a minimum of 45 mins, ideally an hour. Only then are you fully ready to take on the challenge of teh course.

Warming up for a round of golf is hugely important. It should be a factor in all golfers preparation to the tee off. You wouldn’t play football, rugby or any other sport without warming up, golf shouldn’t be no different.